Thiensville Criterium – Tour of America’s Dairyland – Day 2

Actually, the broken pedal happened about a quarter of the way through the race, and the awesome SRAM mechanics had me up and running with replacement pedals to hop back into the race on the next lap. I was placed at the back of the pack but was able to move all the way to the front by the end of the race. There was one big wreck on the backside of the course with 3 laps to go. The course went through a couple blocks of houses with nice grassy yards which turned out to be escape routes for riders in that wreck and also when getting pushed out going into Turn #5. That is one of the visual images from the race that will stick with me — a rider going off the course and riding down a small embankment into somebody’s yard and then out the other side to hop back on the course!

A break of three escaped with about 10 laps to go in the race? I ended up 33rd which meant I was 30th in the field sprint. I fought hard for position, but cramped coming out of the last turn. I had a good wheel to draft though and was able to coast with only a few pedal strokes behind a large, fast rider to the finish. Only 9 more days of racing left!

Finally, here is a mix of pictures from the day … some from my race and some from over four hours away in northwest Wisconsin where Kristine and the kids are enjoying a brief summer vacation in beautiful Shell Lake.